Singer-songwriter Faheem Abdullah’s journey from Kashmir to Bollywood

Do you know who the voice behind the title track of the 2025 sleeper hit Hindi film Saiyaara is? Meet 28-year-old Faheem Abdullah, who shares his journey from the Valley to the studios of Mumbai.

For someone who has always been drawn to art in some form, Faheem took to writing while still in school, mostly to process what he was feeling, which resulted in his very first song: ‘Teri Yaad’.

“It stayed with me for years and was released much later. Music, for me, didn’t begin as a career choice, but as an instinct. Writing and composing became a space where I could be honest without explanation, and that honesty slowly became my sound,” says Faheem, who got his first real break during an India tour he undertook with a friend. “We were travelling with just our music and a strong sense of belief. When we reached Mumbai things began to change quietly. I met the team at Artist First and also Tanishk Bagchi,” shares Faheem, who adds that none of these meetings were planned or strategically pursued, but “happened organically”.

Hailing from Kashmir, Faheem says, is something he carries with pride. “It shapes how I feel, write and see the world. There’s a certain stillness, longing, and emotional depth that comes from the place, and that finds its way into my music subconsciously.” One of his early releases, ‘Jhelum’, reflects this. He does not try to translate his roots deliberately, but they exist in the pauses, silences and emotions of his music. “I believe emotions are universal. Love, loss, hope and longing don’t belong to a particular geography. My aim is to tell stories that feel personal and resonate beyond borders.”

He started as an independent artiste and says it was a phase that taught him everything. “The challenges are real. You’re doing multiple things at once — learning and navigating uncertainty. But the reward is freedom. Even now as I work on multiple projects, I try to hold on to that independence in thought. Every phase has its pros and cons, and I’m learning to embrace all of them as part of the journey,” he says.

One emotion he enjoys exploring in his music is love in all its hues. “The beginning, the longing, the distance, the silence, the healing — this kind of music allows people to see themselves in it.”

So was the genesis and the journey of the 2024 romantic song film song ‘Ishq’, a turning point that helped him gain momentum and opened up opportunities.

Faheem hopes more voices from Kashmir find platforms and audiences
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Working Mohit Suri (director of Saiyaara) was a dream, says Faheem, as his “understanding of music and emotion is incredible. Tanishk (Bagchi) dada was one of the first people I met in Mumbai, and has been an important part of my journey. Both supported me at crucial moments, and those collaborations taught me about discipline, scale and storytelling through music.”

Faheem draws inspiration from different genres and is a fan of RY X and Parvaaz. “Their music is honest and atmospheric. I think the inspiration comes more from feeling than from format, and I try to stay open to that.”

About his upcoming debut stage show in Bengaluru, Faheem says: “Performing live is an important part of this journey. Bengaluru has played a huge role in shaping my creative voice.”

About the Kashmiri music scene, Faheem hopes more voices find platforms and audiences across the country and beyond. “There’s so much talent waiting to be heard,” he says.

Faheem Abdullah will perform in Bengaluru on February 14 at Bhartiya City.